ALBANY – Gov. Pataki delivered a paid speech in Chicago yesterday, his first since receiving a whopping 38 percent pay hike in January, it was revealed last night.

Pataki, whose salary was hiked to $179,000-a-year from $130,000, was paid his “standard fee” of about $17,000 for a speech to the National Association of Bond Buyers, said spokesman Michael McKeon.

Pataki left the state without any notice and Pataki’s paid speech did not appear on his official schedule that was given to the press.

“These are private events, I believe, and this is consistent with what we’ve been doing,” said McKeon.

Republicans repeatedly criticized former Gov. Mario Cuomo for allegedly trading on his public office by delivering paid out-of-state speeches.

But early in his first term, Pataki, without any notice to the public, signed a contract with a national talent agency and began delivering paid speeches, claiming he needed the extra money to support his family.

Despite the fact that bond buyers have an enormous interest in New York State policies and actions that effect Wall Street, McKeon said the state Ethics Commission had given advance approval of Pataki’s speech.